Whether you're a fan of the monster-of-the-week format or the heavy serialized lore of the later years, this run of Supernatural remains some of the most compelling "Wayward Son" storytelling ever put to film.

The show found a second wind by introducing the Word of God tablets. Sam undergoes three grueling trials to close the Gates of Hell forever. Meanwhile, we meet the Men of Letters, giving the brothers a permanent home: The Bunker. The season ends with a breathtaking visual: thousands of angels falling from the sky.

With the Apocalypse averted, a power vacuum opens in Heaven and Hell. Sam returns from the Pit—but without his soul. Dean tries (and fails) to live a normal life. The season focuses on the hunt for Eve (the Mother of All) and Castiel’s dangerous alliance with Crowley to harness the power of souls.

Seasons 1 through 9 take the Winchesters from boys looking for their father to men who have literally stood before God and the Devil. They lost their home, their friends, and their lives multiple times, but they never lost each other.

This season changed everything. Castiel, an Angel of the Lord, pulls Dean "out of perdition." We learn that Sam’s demon-blood-chugging is actually part of a plan to break the 66 Seals, which will release Lucifer from his cage.

With Dean’s year-long crossroads contract ticking down, the brothers hunt Lilith, the first demon. Despite their best efforts, the season ends with one of the show's most iconic and devastating visuals: Dean Winchester in Hell.

The journey begins with Sam Winchester being pulled back into the "family business" by his brother, Dean. The mission is simple: find their missing father and kill the Yellow-Eyed Demon that murdered their mother. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and rooted in classic Americana folklore.

The "Fall of the Angels" leaves Earth crawling with displaced, angry celestials. Sam struggles with being possessed by an angel (Gadreel) to save his life, leading to a rift between the brothers. To kill the knight of hell Abaddon, Dean takes on the Mark of Cain—a burden that begins to darken his very soul, leading to the shocking "Demon Dean" cliffhanger. Why These Seasons Matter